Improved ditching-machine



@niet geen geen in@ Letters Patent No. 76,172, dated .March 31', 1858.

IMPROVED DITCHING-MACHINE.

dige Stimuli unruhin in tlgcst cttets rlntmt mit mating part nftlgt simia- T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I,-ALXANDEB C. DECKER, of Bushnell, in the county of McDonopgh, and Stat-e of Illinois, have invented a newand--improved'Ditching-Machine; and- I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of thc same, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This inventionco'nsists :an improved construction of a ditching-machine, by means of which the dirt is cut by aplough, and carried to'one side, at a dist-ance from the ditch, by uieans o f a ser-ies of buckets attached to a belt; also, .in certain novel devices for operating various parts of the machine., as will be hereinafter fully described.'

Figure 1 represents a sectional view throughvthe line x fr, and

Figure2 atop view of my machine. Y

In the drawings, A represents thefmain frame of the machine, supported uponthe wheels atv a and casterwlieel a', to which frame is hinged-the small frame B. V

C C. repr esent longitudinal beams, between which the shovel D is-sus`peuded. C also represents a longitudinal beam, which, with the hearn C', forms a support for the seat E.

Frepresents a shaft, hung-in bearings upon the under side of the frame A,'which shaft forms theeaxle for Vthe 'wheels a, the latter revolving freely upon the former in one direction, but, when moved in a contrary mar.-

ner, give motion to the shaft by mans of` a. ratchet-wheel and. pawl. The shaftFextends beyond the main frame upon the inner side, and is coupled vin a suitable manner tothe shaft G, which latter unites with shaft H of the wheel H. i

H represents a bevelled gear-wheel, which operates the corresponding wheel I, np'o'n whose shaft are placed' anged spur-wheels, by which lattermeans motion is ,given to the bueketsfd'.v

K, iig. 1,'represents small wheels, in pairs, hung at suitable and regular'intervals within the rear end o fthe main frame A, and withinv the small frame B, which, thus arranged, are designed to carry the bucketsJ.

L represents a flanged roller, supported in bearings, l l, beneath the main frame, the kobject' ofwhi'ch is to support thepbucketsJ, and -prevent themfrom coming in centact with the ground.

M represents a belt of buckets, which may be constructed in any suitable manner orshape. In this case, the belt consists of alternate links of wire and sheet metal, the latter of which -are attached to the buckets upon their under side, and the former of which, being open, are caught by the spurs 'upon the wheels of the driving-shaft. i

The buckets J are constructed with three sides only, the upperside being .left open, in order to facilitate the discharge of the dirt'at the proper moment. A caster-wheel is attached at the point n, which supports the frame B.

The plough or shovel D-isf constructed, as shown in fig. 2, with the point d, which first enters the ground,

and from which point to the point d runs the cutting-line, this angle being most'suitable for penetrating the.

earth easily. From this line the shovel slopes upward and rearward, by av gentle incline, until its rear end is over the buckets'J. The shovel also is provided with suitable sides, vso that the dirt', as fast as it is cut, is delivered to the buckets. I I

ci, iig. 1, represents a shoe, attached to the under side of the plough D, by which means the latter is kept in proper line.

da'represents a ianged roller, to whichis attached one end of the chains di, the other en d of which latter is attached to the sides of the shovel at afpoint'near its upper end.

d5 represents a similar roller und chains, the lower ends of which letter are attached to the arms d6, which branch forward and upward from the shovel D. These arms d6 are provided, at the forward ends, with holes, 017, as shown in iig. 1.

AR represents a slotted clevis, attached to the under side of the frame A, w-hose lower ends unite with the bars S. A rod, 1*, passes through slots in clevis, and through one pair of the holes cZ7, by which arrangement the shovel is properly guided when raised or lowered. By the use of the different holes d?, it may be adjusted forward or backward, es may be desired;

The rollers cl3 dfareactuated byilevers, u ul, which are operated in connection with the racks uz u.

To the bottom of the seat E are attached the rods e e, which pass through both the upper and lower bars of the standard chaud are provided with heads upon the lower sides. c2 e2 represent springs, encircling the rods e. By this arrangement of rods and springs, the scat` is rendered very secure, and, at the same time', extremely easy. The rods c prevent any lateral movement, and, at the same time, yield readily'in a Vperpendicular direction, so that the entire weight of the driver rests upon the springs. 'A

It will be observed that the frame A is constructed in such manner that the side upon which the plough is located is the lowest, the belt of buckctsbeing an inclined plane. v

Theopera-tion of my invention is as'follows: The shovel having been first adjusted properly by means of the leversu ul, the machine vis `set'in motion. The pawl upon the wheels a engaging with the ratchetivheel upon the .shaft F, motion is thus given tothe latter, which, combining with gearwheel I` by moans of shafts G H `'and ear-wheelH, oJera-tes the buckets J. The dirt, risin from the lonffh, falls uoon the buckets, and is E l g P e i delivered therefrom at a distance from the ditch. y

The frame B being hinged to the frame A, and the shaft Grvbeing connected with the shafts F and H by universal joints, the frame B can be elevated or depressed, as desired, andthe machine is thus enabled, by this arrangement, to pass readily over uneven ground.V

The arrangement of ratchet-wheel and pawl allows the machine to be backed in any direction, when necessary, Without operating the buckets.

This general combination and arrangement is believed to be more simple and compact'than anything of the kind in use. I

This machine is not only adapted for ditching, but can also be used for grading purposes, the earth being taken from the sides of the road, and delivered in the centre, or the contrary, as may be desired.

This machine maybe made right or left-lranded,'as desired..

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent', vis--' 1. The shovel D, constructed, as described, with cutting-edge d a", varms d6, and shoe d2, in combination with clevis R, rod 1, chains df, rollers cl3 d5, levers uu, and racks u2 u, substantially as described.

2. The frame A, constructed as described, frame B, buckets M, wheels K, androller L, when combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth. I

3. The shaft F, .shaft G, shaft H, wheel H', wheel I, with driving-shaft and spur-wheels, when combined and operated in the manner set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed, this fifteenth day ofdanuary, 1868.

A. C. DECKER. Witnesses:

. A'. FLOYD,

C. A. S'ruLTs. 

